The Cranes Are Flying (Летят журавли)

SOUND AND IMAGE DIGITALLY RESTORED BY MOSFILM

The Cranes are Flying received the following awards:

Special Prize First All-Union Film Festival in Moscow

Palme d'Or 11th International Cannes Film Festival

Special Mention — Tatiana Samoilova

First Prize, Superior Technical Commission (France)...

to Cinematographer Sergei Urusevsky

Special Mention, 9th International Workers' Film Festival, Czechoslovakia

Honorary Certificate 1st Vancouver International Film Festival

Honorary Mention Mexico International Film Festival

David O. Selznick Award for Best Foreign Film

Director MIKHAIL KALATOZOV

A MOSFILM PRODUCTION

Squirrel, wait.

Put these on.

Look.

“Cranes like ships, sailing in the sky

White ones, grey ones With long beaks they fly”

Look!

That's what you get.

You and your cranes.

THE CRANES ARE FLYING

Screenplay by V. ROZOV

Directed by MIKHAIL KALATOZOV

Cinematography by S. URUSEVSKY

Production Design by E. SVIDETELEV

Music by M. WEINBERG Sound by I. MAYOROV

Edited by M. TIMOFEYEVA

Starring

T. SAMOI LOVA

A. BATALOV

V. MERKURYEV

A. SHVORIN, S. KHARITONOVA

K. NIKITIN, V. ZUBKOV

A. BOG DONOVA

B. KOKOVKIN, A. KUPRIANOVA

A MOSFILM PRODUCTION 1957

Who's there?

Well?

Wait.

All right, go ahead.

When...?

- Thursday at the embankment. - That's so far away!

Squirrel, we didn't set a time!

Squirrel!

Squirrel, when?

I mean, what time on Thursday?

Well?

No, I can't.

We're up to our necks in work at the factory.

Okay.

- Don't be late. - I won't.

Squirrel!

He's set her head spinning.

And she his.

That's love, my dear: a mutual giddiness.

Grandma, why aren't you in bed yet?

I'm already up, Boris.

Stop chewing so loud! Running around all night!

You're just jealous.

Did you rip it?

Your jacket's in one piece.

Disgraceful. Twelve o'clock and he's still asleep.

He works hard. He's tired.

Let him sleep in on Sunday.

This “work” of his will end in a wedding.

You're sore you're not first.

Irina's mind should be on her thesis.

You're falling behind, Uncle.

She almost has her doctorate, and you're just an ordinary doctor.

If children don't surpass their parents,

the parents are no good and the children are dummies.

Thanks, Mama.

Important announcement!

What's going on?

Boris! War!

You hear me? It's war!

Leave me alone.

Hello.

Boris is at the factory day and night.

You're waiting for him, right?

I'm not waiting for anyone.

Veronika.

In wartime, the important thing is not to lose your head.

Keep up the routines of a normal everyday life.

Like me.

I dream of dedicating a piano concerto to you.

- Will you come hear it? - Won't you be drafted?

Drafted?

I don't know. I doubt it.

Why's that?

Because exemptions will be granted...

to those who amount to something.

- And you amount to something? - Yes.

Why are you always following me around?

Aren't you ashamed?

I am.

I've told myself a thousand times I wouldn't.

Boris is my cousin, but I can't help it.

You understand? I can't help it.

Wait.

- Wait. - There's no need to escort me.

Careful! You'll hit your own foot.

It'll be harder at the front.

They won't send you to the front.

There'll be just one exemption: you or me.

So you should stay. You have knowledge and experience.

You have something more important: talent.

Take care of those blueprints of yours.

You know...

my wife's already sewn...

a nice backpack for me.

As they say, “Bayonets in hand!”

Bayonets in hand!

Stepan!

Give me a hand.

Excuse me, Sachkov.

- Where's our draft notice? - Nothing yet.

They're really slow. You going home?

No, I'm... uh...

I get it! Give her my best!

Hey!

- Have you told her? - No. Why rush it?

You're right. See you tomorrow.

- Let go. - No.

You're gonna fall.

- You'll tear the shade. - It's a blanket.

- I'll call the police. - I'm tired of blackouts! Let go!

- You'll fall. - I will not.

Stop it.

Let me hang this up.

You didn't come to the embankment today, but Mark did.

- So? - He's handsome.

What of it?

You're not jealous?

- What? - You're not jealous?

I have no time for that.

Too bad.

I'll show you. I'll apply to the Architectural Institute.

- They don't accept your kind. - They will.

I doubt it.

Cranes like ships sailing in the sky

White ones, grey ones With long beaks they fly

You like my song?

Very profound.

Little frogs Why didn't you look up?

You just hopped around

And got eaten up

Did you win, hero?

I won, I won.

I won!

Anyway...

- Think you'll be drafted? - Of course.

- Would you volunteer? - I just might.

You'll do no such thing!

You know you'll be exempt. That's why you talk so big.

- What makes you so sure? - I know.

All the smart ones will be exempt.

80 only fools will fight?

I don't wish to discuss it any further.

Veronika...

- I want to discuss something. - Well, I don't.

And please don't call me Veronika.

Who am I?

- Squirrel. - That's right.

Listen.

What will my present be tomorrow?

It's a secret.

If it's something tasty, I'll eat it and forget all about it.

Give me something I'll remember...

as long as I live.

Kiss me.

When you're with me...

I'm not afraid of anything.

Not even the war.

Just the police.

Veronika?

You know what?

Do you?

I'm going to make myself...

a white wedding dress.

Like the one Grandma wore.

And a long, long veil.

And you'll wear a black suit...

- and we'll go...? - To the registry office.

Agreed?

Agreed.

I like this blackout.

What changed your mind?

Hi there!

Stepan!

I have a treat for you both. It's a secret.

- Did it come? - Yes!

Why didn't you say so? Spit it out!

Things are crazy at the factory! The other guys ran to the barber.

Keep it short!

I went to your place.

Get to the point!

- Your family's worried — - When do we report?

Today at 5:00. With all our things.